Six tools to your feel-good Christmas

When I speak with clients about the holidays, their worry of gaining weight, of feeling bloated and uncomfortable, of drinking too much and so on; the answer I get most is "Well, it's Christmas".

I understand the desire to celebrate and let go, but I do know that there's absolutely no need to feel awful, for anything. It's about adjusting our mindset so that we can have fun AND feel good. Let's avoid the constant on/off approach and create a balanced and sustainable way of life. It's more than okay to have an indulgent meal, but not all your meals need to be. It's really easy to move between having fun to feeling terrible, having clear boundaries and strong habits can help avoid that.

Take a moment to think about how do you want to feel? What do you want to remember the holidays by? How do you want to start off the New Year? What kind of example do you want to set for your children?

In the same way I work with my clients, the following are simple and actionable tools that you can apply straight away. Start with one thing, the rest will follow. Start where you are.

Digestive enzymes

Digestive enzymes help break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from food. This allows for the absorption of nutrients and for your health and wellbeing. Without these enzymes, your body can't absorb nutrient efficiently and it can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Digestive enzymes are available as a food supplement and can be helpful when you're having rich meals, when you're travelling and prone to digestive issues or if you suffer from bloating and discomfort. I recommend this one (use this link for an exclusive 10% off). As always, please consult with a health professional.

Fermented foods

Bitter fermented foods slow down blood sugar absorption and support blood sugar balance. They also shut down receptors in the brain that crave sweets. A few simple ways to add these to your diet is to swap yogurt for kefir, add miso paste to soups and dressings or add sauerkraut to salads or noodles or in toasties. Be sure to have this daily and you'll definitely reap the benefits. You can easily make sauerkraut at home (recipe here) or shop bought (please note to only buy refrigerated and not in vinegar or brine).

Vinegar before meals

Indulgent meals can often leave you feeling lethargic and grogy. You feel great for 10 minutes and then awful the rest of the day. This can be due to spikes in sugar levels and not having enough protein and fats to balance your meal. Vinegar contains acetic acid and it has been found that it can cause a 30% reduction in the glucose spike of the meal and 20% reduction in the insulin of the meal. It can also improve digestion, help fight free radicals and can potentially boost metabolism.

Have 1 or 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, 15 minutes before a meal.

Christmas crunchy salad with fennel, carrots, celery, clementines and herbs

Green salad

Leafy greens are among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, the greener the better. Loaded with vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and folic acid.

Leafy greens contain fibre and it can slow down the speed at which you digest starches, so glucose trickles into the bloodstream more slowly than if you had eaten the same foods in the reverse order. Aim to start all your meals with a green salad (it's crucial to eat fibre BEFORE starchy foods) to feel their amazing benefits and finishing your meals feeling energised.

A simple salad can be a mix of leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, rocket, parsley and coriander. Go for an easy dressing like olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper.

Stay active

This is an obvious one but it's usually the first one we let go of when things get busy. It's also the one thing that will always make you feel better. Schedule it in, have your family involved or plan family outings like walks or hikes. Exercise can support your mood, metabolic health and improve quality of sleep.

Intermittent Fasting

During the festive period with all the extra meals and Christmas chocolate, IF can support digestion, balance blood sugar, improve energy levels and quality of sleep. Commit to 12-hour fast between your last bite of food and breakfast. For example, stop eating at 9pm and have breakfast at 9am. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult with a health practitioner.

The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to see friends and family, to spend time with our children, to eat delicious foods and to rest and recharge. We can sometimes lose sight of the intention of family holidays and then we can end up feeling depleted and run down. Enjoy yourself, eat the cake and also remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones.

If you feel you need support, I'd love to have a chat with you. Click here for a free consult call.

Happy holidays!